FIBA starts disciplinary proceedings for PH-AUS skirmish

Things were already getting chippy during the team warmups between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia (photo by Peter Paul Baltazar)

by Jonas Terrado

BOCAUE, Bulacan – World governing body FIBA said it will open disciplinary proceedings against Gilas Pilipinas and Australia for their brawl that occurred in Monday’s FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena here.

FIBA issued the statement more than an hour after the fight through @FIBA_media, a Twitter account which contains the international federation’s media releases.

“Following the incident that occurred in the third quarter of the Philippines-Australia game on Monday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers, FIBA will now open disciplinary proceedings against both teams. The decision(s) will be communicated in the coming days,” FIBA said.

Fourteen players from Gilas and Australia were ejected after figuring in a brawl with 4:01 left in the third quarter and the visiting Boomers holding a 79-48 lead.

Gilas was left with three players before the game abruptly ended in the same period when June Mar Fajardo and Gabe Norwood fouled out.

Though sources said that players may likely escape sanctions which includes a suspension, FIBA has had a history of meting severe punishments in the past.

Among them was an incident in a 2010 exhibition game between China and Brazil where FIBA imposed heavy fines on the two teams and the Chinese Basketball Association, which hosted the match in Sichuan.